Vacuum pressure device and mask



July 3, 192s.

1,675,492 w. c. HUEBNlK-:R

VACUUM PRESSURE DEVICE AND MASK Filed Feb.5, 1925 2 sheets-smeet 1 my 3, 192s.

w. c. HUEBNER' VAGUM PRESSURE DEVICE AND msx Filed Feb. 5, 1925 2 Sheets--VSheefl 2 Patented uly 3, 1928.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFICE.

WILLIAM c. HUEBNEB, or BUFFALO, NEW Yonx, asgronon 'ro HUEBNin-ELEISTETN l often necessitates therepeating o` rom VACUUM PRESSURE Application led February This invention' relates more particularlyto a vacuum pressure device, registering means andl mask for contact photographic printing machines of that sort disclosed for example in Patent No. '1,377 ,249, issued in my name, May 10, ,1921, in which photographic prints are made on a photo-sensitive plate or surface from a transparent negative or printing plate vheld'incontact. with the sensitized or print-receiving `plate or surface. It is essential to perfect work in machines of thisI sort to provide means for insurin aperfeet contact between the printing p ate and the sensitized surface throughoutthe entire area of theprinting plate. Such machines are commonly usedv for photo-composing Work which requires that the printing plate be positioned or registered with great precision with reference to the sensitized plate, or with reference to a layout or co y, and

from the samel printing plate or iiferent printing plates, which may be of different sizes, in different required locations r and positions on the print-'receiving sui-,

face. Where a succession of. prints from the same or different printing plates are to be made in different locations on the same print-receiving surface, it is desirable when making one print to mask or cover the re maining portions of the sensitized surface so as to prevent light' action thereon. In photo-composing machines of the character mentioned, it is often desirable to photograph 'small images nearthe gripper and side edges of flexible sensitized metal press plates which areJ secured at their edges in a suitable holder in the machine, and it has been only in. machines having special rovision .forthis purpose that it has lgeen practicable -to secure proper contact or pressure vbetween the plates when printing small images near the edges or corners of the sensitized plate, on account of Kthe necessity for the holder for the printing plate to extend beyond the edge of the sensitizedplate in order to so locate the prints.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a lpractical and desirable pressure /device of simple and inexpensive construction for insuring a perfect contact of the printing'plate and print-receiving surface throughoutthe. Whole surface area of the 'printing plate notwithstanding possible unev'enness or variations in thickness in the rints :PATENTS- COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DEVICE AND MASK.

5, 1988. Serial No. 616,938.

printing plate, and in which vacuum 'is utilized to cause the pressure of the contactin surfaces against each other; also to provi e a device for this purpose which enables the printing plate to be positioned or registered with precision in the required relation to the print-receiving surface, and enables the same or different rinting plates to be accurately placed in di erent required locations or positions with reference to the print-receiving surface; also to provide a devicefor causing the required contact between' the printing plate and one portion of the print-receiving surface, and which forms a mask or light shield for the other portions of the sensitized print-receiving. surface; also to provide a-device of the nature mentioned in which the printing plate isl held in adjusted position on a printing plate holder or support so that the printing plate can be accurately adjusted or registered with res ectl to its holder or support andvwhereby tli 'the printing plate secured thereon and the print-receiving plate can be readily moved into and out-ofcontact and adjusted relatively toeach other without contact of the :printing 'plate with the sensitized surface and consequent danger of injury to the same.; also to supply a simple device whereby various sizes of printing plates carrying images can be exposed near the edges as Well as at other portions of the sensitized plate or surface, and proper contact between the plates assured, without theftrouble usually attending the overlapping of large printing plates bearing small images, or the need for, an expensive assortment of s ecial sized 1 printin plate holders for prlnting plates'of di erent sizes; and also to limprove preare and registering devices for photographic printing machines in the other respects hereinafter described andset forth inthe claims. f i

Inthe accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a negative e printing plate holder vwith construction.

Fig. 4 is av fragmentary section of a portion of vacuum mask of slightly modiiied Fig. 5 is a front elevation on a reduced scale, showing one method of securing the printing plate on the supporting glass of the plate holder.- 1

Fig. 6 is a elevation on a reduced scale showing the. printing plate holder and a at the edge or corner portions 'o mask detached;

vacuum mask for supporting a small vprinting plate so as to enablev a print o be made the printreceiving plate or surface.

Fig. 7 is a perspect've view ofthe vacuum Fig. -8 vis a sectional view thereof on line 8- 8, Fig. 1, showing the connection of the mask with the suction tube orpipe.

Fig. 9 is a section thereof on an enlarged scale on line 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view showing one way of securing ingvplate.

a printing plate on'its transparent support- 1g. 11 is a similar view showinganother way of securing a printing plate on the-supporting plate.-

A represents a negative or transparent printing plate, and B a sensitized or printreceiving plate "against" the sensitized surface of which the printing plate is adapted to be pressed vfor making photographic printsv on the print-receiving plate B by exposure to light passing through the transparent negative or printing plate. C is a back support, which may be a board or member of any suitable character adapted to bear against the back of theprnt-receiving plate to support or brace the same against eflection or movement whenthe printing plate is'plac'ed in-f contact with the| print- Igreceiving plate. The print-.receiving plate B is ordinarily 'afthin metal plate provided with a light' sensitive coating adapted, after being developed, to be used :in'a printing press `for makin ink impressionstherefrom,

' and a photograp ic negative on a glass plate is ordinarily used as the printing plate A, and these' arts are so shown in the draw- .ings. .In t e machinesin which my inven` tion is ordinarily usedfor making photo`v graphic prints from the printing plateA on the print-receiving plate B, these plates are mounted lfacing each other in holders, one or thev other, or both of which are movable for placing the printing plate opposite -any required portionof the print-receiving plate and for placing the plates into andmut of contact.y `The holder .for the plate B is not shown, as this is not necessary to an understanding of the invention, but it--should be understood that the holders can be arranged `so as to s port-the plates vvertically or in an other Ves ired position. i

Ae holder for the' printing plateA preferably consists of a suitable frame 15 providedwith an opening 16 for the passage of light tothe printing plate, and a transparent or glass supporting plate 17 which is mounted on the frame 15 over the light opening, 16. therein and forms a support for the printing plate A. The supporting plate 17 vis adjustably secured' on the holder frame 15 so. that the supporting plate 17 with theprinting plate A thereon can be adjusted relatively Vto the holder frame 15 for the purpose of registering or accurately positioning the printing plate as may be required with refl erence tothe print-receiving plate B., or with reference to 'a layout or copy. Any suitable adjusting and holding means for ther supporting plate may be employed for this purpose. As shown, the supporting plate 17 is provided with bevelled edges land is adjustably held on one face of the holder frame 15 by holding lingers or members 18 which engage .the edges of the plate and are adjustably connected by thumb screws 19 to the holder frame. -The fingers are adapted.

to be moved for adjusting the supporting plate by appropriately adjusting the screws o 19 so as to shift the supporting plate as required on the -holder frame 15. As shownA advancing the remaining fingers, -the supporting plate can be shifted in. one or another direction and also angularly on the holder. frame, so that by appropriate adj ustments'of theholding fingers the supporting plate can be shifted so 'as to place the prlntinrr plate in any desired position within- R the limits of adjustment of` the holder as l may be necessary to center or register the printing image or register marks .on the printingplate in a predetermined or registered position with respect tothe printing plate holder and to the printing machine inv which the" 'printing plate holder occupies a predetermined position, as presently explained. Thus the printing image on the printing plate can be registered with regard to a predetermined positionon the printing4 machine, aswell as with regard to the printreceiving plate B,^as before mentioned. The printing plate can be secured on'the face of' the supportin 'plate -17 by any appropriate means, such or example as adhesive securing strips 20 placedalong the edges of the prlnting plate 'with the strips adhering to the edges of the negative and to the supporting plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, or, if desired, the printing plate can be secured on 'the supporting plate by cement applied other suitable way of securing the negative on the supporting plate could be employed. The printing plate holder can be mounted in the photographic printing machine or frame in any suitable way. Preferably. this holder is removably secured in place 1n the machine on a support or framev 22 so that the printing plate holder with the printin plate mounted thereon can be quickly an easily placed in predetermined positlon in the photographic printing machine after the printing plate has been properly secured and adjusted or registered on the holder outside of the machine. For this purpose, as shown, the support '22. i s provided With fixed "studs 23 adapted to enter holes 24 in the back of the holder frame 15. The negative holder can thus be quickly placed in and removed from the machine, and it will always occupy precisel the same predetermined position, and di erent holders having corresponding holes .24 can be similarly 'placed accurately in the same position on lthe support 22. Any othersuitable means for thus-removably securing the printin plate holder in predetermined position in t e machine could beemployed, and if not desired, the printing plate holder need not be removable from the machine. In' the photographic printing machine, light from `a lamp or 'other suitable source of light passes VVthrough an opening 25 in the support 22 and the opening 16 of the vlframe 15 for illumilnatin the transparent printing plate, and

usua y the lamp isenclosed within a suiti 'able housing; or casing mounted on the ,sup-

. port 22 so t escape only through the openings of the support 22 and plate holder, and cannot escape around the plateholder and thus .act on t sensitized plate except through the transparent supporting plate 1'7.

` 26 represents a mask or device for producing -the required close Contact of the surface of the printing plate -with the surface of the'print-receiving plate, and -.for masking or cpvering the portionsof the transparent supporting late-17 which surround or project beyond t e edges of the printing platev so as\J to prevent passage oi light through su'ch'suroundin portions and the `action of the light on t e sensitizedgplate y. u except through the .'ao

' ket orsheet of rubber or other suitable malate. This exible blan- .printing maslc prefera 1y consists of a terial impervious to light and air, which is `removably".secugred on the printing plate holder overlyingthe supporting plate 17, and is provided with an opening 26I through tion 27 of the mask or blanket. at the light from the' lanip can.

corner portions of the plate holder frame 15,

thus adapting the mask to be quicklyv secured in position simply by engaging the tabs over the hooks or studs 30. Any other suitable means for removably securing the mask on the plate holder could be employed. vThe annular raised portion 27 of themask projects outwardly from the face of the' mask slightly beyond the outer face of the printing plate and extends completely around the printing plate so that when this raised portion is pressed into Contact with4 the print-receiving plate, a closed chamber will be formed whlch is occupied by the oprinting plate.- This chamber is connected by a passage 31 preferably in a raised portion 32 on the mask blanket extending from the chamber 28, to the edge of the inask 25,

the passage 31 being connected bya suitable coupling or connection 33 to a hose or pipe 34 which is adapted to be connected with alpump or device for exhausting air from the vacuumchamber 28. The annular raised preferably made of rubber or analogous ielding material adapted to be compressed y the pressure of the print-receiving plate thereon so as to insure anair tight joint between the latter plate and the-raised por- When therefqre, the print-receiving plate is pressed against the raised .portionv of the mask or blanket and air is exhaustedvfrom the vacuum chamber, the air will be likewise ex'.

`haustedl from -between the opposing surfaces of the printing plate and the printreceiving plate, so that the print-receiving plate will bepressed and held into iirm, closecontactwith the face of the-printing plate. The `pressure 'and contact will be uniform throughout the extent of the printingl plate, irrespective` of irregularities in its surface,because of the flexibility of the print-receiving plate. In order to prevent the print-receiving plate, which is usually thin, from collapsing or being depressed into the exhaust passage 31,. a raised rib 35 lis preferably provided on the blanket or mask within the passage 31Aso-as to leave only narrow .channels at `opposite sides of this rib 35 which are so narrow that the printy receiving plate cannot be depressed therein sufficiently 'to prevent proper air tight joints 100 portion 27 and the raised portion 32 `are -between. the print-receiving plate and the outer wallsv of the exhausting passage.

If the print-receiving plate is too iiexible to bear against the annular raised portion 27 of the 'mask withy suicient pressure to insure an air-'tight closure of the vacuum chamber, a suitableback support or pressure member, such as themem'ber C illustrated in Fig. 3

V can be' employed .to cause the necessary pressure ot the print-receiving plate against the raised -portion 27. In the case of a suiiicientlystiff or rigidl print-receiving plate or element, however, this back support or device C would not be essential'.-

' If it-is desired, `the mask or blanket can be provided on its underside around the edfre of itslpvlate opening 26a and opposite t e portion 27, witha raised rib 36, as shown in sheet of. rubber or analogous material to.

form the raised chamber and passage portions 28 and 31, so thatmasks suitable for different sizes of printing plates, or for small printing plates located near the edge" or corner of the plate holder can be vreadily made, and if necessary any skilledoperator i of a photo-composing machine can easily make a mask adapted for any rparticular requirement. Fig. 6 shows a mask with its opening 9.6a `so arranged as to locate a small printing plate at one corner of the plate holder. This same mask can bev used for 'V locating the printing plate correspondingly yso at any yother corner of the plate holder, b

simply turning and securing the mask in di ferent positions Jon the plate holder. By means-of they mask described, one printing plate holder of maximum size can be used for any smaller size of negative or printing plate, and a practicalu degree of vacuum pressure of .the printing plate against the f print-receiving plate obtained, close to the image edge, by reason of the smaller 'size of the printing pllate which can be used for the image. At t e same time the device serves as a light mask to prevent light action on the sensitized surfaceexcept only where intended, that is through the printing plate.

'to required position on the printing plate and print-receiving plate can Since the printing plateis fixedly secured on the supporting plate 17 which is adjustably 'secured on the holder 15, the printing plate can be readily adjusted with precision holder,and the be placed into and out of contact and adjusted for making prints in different required positions on the print-receiving plate by adjustments of the holder for one' or both of the plates in the manner usual in photographic contact printing machines, without disarranging the printing plate andwithout danger` of injuring the sensitized surface. The printing plate and -mask remain in place on the holder 15 and no readjustments thereof are necessary in making repeat prints. Y

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vacuum device for pressing a 'plate and an opposing element into contact face to face, the combination of ansupport on which said plate is secured and which isimperforate within the area thereof covered by said plate, a device which is removably mounted on said support, surrounds the periphery of said plate and bears against 'the face of said element and against said support uninterruptedly around the periphery of said plate to form a vacuum chamber `in 'wvhich said plate is located, and means for withdrawing air from said chamber.

2. In a vacuum device for pressing a printing element and a print-receiving element into contact, the combination of .a support for the printing element which is imperforate within the area `thereof covered by said printing element, a device which surrounds the periphery of the printing elevvment between said support and said printreceiving element and bears against said sup'- port and against said print-receiving element and with said support and print-re- Iceiving element forms an air tight vacuum chamber in which the printing `element is located, and means for withdrawing yair from said chamber. x

I 3. In a vacuum device for pressing a print- 1n ingo contact, the combination 'of a support for the printing element, ad'ustable means for stationarily securing sai printing element in different adjusted positions on said element and a print-receiving element v support for registering the printing image with reference to said support, a. device carried by said support and -bearing against said print-receiving element and said support uninterruptedly )around said printing element, said support, print-receiving element and device forming an air/ tight vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and means for withdrawing air from said chamber. 7

v 4. In a vacuum device forpressing'a transparent printing element and a print-receiving element into contact, the combination of .a transparent imperforate support against the face of which the printing element bears, a device which 'surrounds the periphery of the' printing element and -bears against said transparent support and against said print- -the .print-receiving element,

means Iment means said su rting platein different adjustments bn saisriiblder, t

receiving` element uninterruptedly around said printing ,element to form. a vacuum chamber between said print-receiving element and said su port in which the printing element is locate and means for withdrawing air from said chamber.

5. In a vacuum device for pressing a transparent printing element and aprint-receiving element into contact, the combination of a transparent support for the printing element, a light mask which covers the ortions of said trans arent support surroun ing theperiphery o the printin element. and isadapted to bear against t e print-receiving element and said support and together with said print-receiving element and support to form a vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and means for awithdrawing air from said chamber.

' 6. In aA vacuum device for pressing a printing element and a print-receiving element into contact, the combination of a support on which the printing element is secured, a holder, means for adjusting said support on said holder to adjust the printing element relatively to the holder, a device which surrounds the periphery of the printing element and bears against the print-receiving element and against said support, said support, print-receiving element and. device being of a constructlon to form a vacuum chamber in ywhich the printing element is located, and means for withdrawing air from said chamber.

"7l In a vacuum device for pressing a transparent printing element and a printreceiving element into contact, the, combination of a transparent supporting plate on which said printing element 1s secured facing means for adjustlng said supporting plate to adjust theV printing element relatlve y to the iprint-receiving element, a light maslrwhlch surrounds the peri hery of saidV printing element between t eprint-receiving 'element and said supporti plate and `is Iadapted by contact with saidgprint-receiving element and said supporting plate and to ther with said parts to form la. vacuum camber in which the printin element is located, and

for with rawing air froin said amber. c 8. The combinatinof a holder for a printing element which holder is provided with an, adjustable supporting plate, means for securing a printing element on said su porting plate facing a print-receiving elpfor securing a device which is adapted to bear a ainst the print-receiving element and sai support around the periphery of the printing element and together with said rint-receiving element and said support to orm a vacuum chamber .in which the printing element il located, and means for withdrawing air from said chamber. v

9. The combination of -.a holder for a printing element. which holder is'provided with an adjustable supporting plate, means for securing a printing element on said supporting plate facing a print-receiving element, means for securing said supporting plate in different adjustments on said holder, a device which is carried by said plate holder `and is adapted-to bear against the printreceiving element and said supporting plate around the periphery of the printing element and together with said print-receiving element and said supporting plate, to form a vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and means `for withdrawing air from said chamber.

10. The combination of a holder for a printing element, which holder is provided with an adjustable transparent supporting plate, means for securing a printing element on said supporting plate facing a printreceiving element, a light mask which is carried by said holder and surrounds the printing element between the supporting plate and the print-receiving element and is adapted to bear against said supportin plate' and print-receiving element around t e periphery of the printing plate and together with said supporting p ate and print-receiving element to forma vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and means for withdrawing air from lsaid chamber.

11'. In a vacuum device for pressing a printing element and a print-receiving element intp copltact, the colpbination pli ha su port or t e rint' eement, a t mgsk comprising s iexlie sheet placed ietween said support and the plint-receiving element havin an opening through which the printing e ement is ex osed and an annular compressible raise portion which bears against the print-receiving element around the -periphery of the rinting element forming a vacuum chamlier in which the printing element is located, and means for withdrawing lair from said chamber.

12. In a vacuum device for pressing a printing element and a print-receiving element into coililtaplt, he combinaton vof a sup rt on w ic t e rint' cement is seclii'gd, a flexible blang mg support between the same and the printreceiving element, said blanket surrounding the printing element and bearing against the support and the print-receiving element o form a vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and means for withdrawing air from said chamber.

13. In a vacuum device for pressing a printing element and a print-receivin ele; ment into contact face to face, one o said elements being of larger area than the other,

to project beyond the edge of said larger element, a mask which is disposed between saidsupport and saidflarger element and covers the projectingpart of said support and isvadapted to bear against the surface of saidxlarger element around the ed es of said smaller element andtogether wit said print-receiving element vand support to form a closed vacuum chamber inwhich the smaller element is enclosed, and means for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber.

14. In a vacuum'device for pressing a printing element and a print receiving element into contact, the combination of a support for theprinting element, means for stationarily securing said printing element in different adjustments on said support for registering the printing image with respect to 'said support, a device which is arranged between and ,isv adaptedv to bear Y against said support and saidprint-receiving element around the periphery of said printing` element and together with said support and print-receivin element to form a vac.

uum chamber in w ch the, printing element l yis located, and means for withdrawing air from said vacuum chamber.

15. The combination of a print-receiving 'a0 element, a holder for -a-printing element constructed to occupy a predetermined posi-f tion in a printing machine, means for stationarily securing said dierent adjusted positions Ion said holder, a device arranged and constructed to bear against the face of said print-receiving element around said p cooperation therew1th to form an air tight vacuum chamber in which the printing element is located, and-means for withdrawing air from said vacuum chamber for pressing said printing element and print-receiving element into contact face to face.

16 In a vacuum device for p pressing .a

printing element and an opposing -elem/ent into uniform close contact, the combination) printing element in rinting element and in of a transparent support on the face of which said printing element is supported facing said opposing element, said vsupport being imperforate'in the'area thereof covered by said prmting element, .a device .which is `adapted to contact with said 'support and said opposing element and form an air tight vclosure'around the periphery of said printing element for thel spacci between said sup porto and said opposing element within which said printing for withdrawing lair from by said device.

`theV space closed wnjLIAM c. HUEBNER.'

element is located, and means 

